Early SEC Predictions

It's extremely difficult to predict the winners of the most competitive football conference in the world. Especially when there are still approximately 80 something odd days left until the season starts, but i thought i would give it a shot. I believe that every team in the SEC has became at least marginally better than the previous year. With every SEC recruiting class being in the top 50 nationally, and the majority of the SEC being in the top 20, this could be more of the most productive freshmen classes in a while. There is a lot of potential on both sides of the conference for these freshmen to start playing this upcoming season. That being said, that also means that many leadership roles throughout the SEC are now vacant. The 2014 class will bring even more competition to the already on fire SEC, and two teams in particular (1 in West, 1 in East) catch my eye. Let's start off with South Carolina. The Gamecocks lose Jadeveon Clowney on defensive and Connor Shaw on offense, but they return the ever dangerous Mike Davis, who can score at any time from any part of the field. With the ol' ball coach at the helm, the Gamecocks are poised for a run to the SEC championship in my opinion. I think they end up making it to Atlanta in December. On the other side of the conference, the one team that stands out is ALA...no.... LSU! Last year, LSU sported probably the best running backs in the nation. Alabama has lost too many players to make it back to the championship game this year. LSU has brought in the top wide outs and running backs in the 2014 class. I think that the new freshmen contribute and that the Tigers end up playing for the SEC title. When i look at all the teams in the SEC, there is one that i cannot seem to feel out...Georgia. Decimated by injuries last year, the Bulldogs return Marvin Mitchell, Keith Marshall, and Todd Gurley from injuries. Mitchell and Marshall's injuries were season ending, while Gurley was hobbled by an ankle sprain throughout the year. So on one hand, they get all their playmakers back, but on the other, they lose their captain, Aaron Murray. They also have had trouble with the defense in the off season, losing key players in the secondary. Will Georgia and their untested QB be able to make a run this fall? Three things have to happen for Georgia to be a factor: stay healthy, good(not great) QB play, and a reliable secondary. I don't see the Bulldogs checking all three off their list, which is why i see them in 3 or 4th place in the East. But don't sleep on the Bulldogs, because they have the potential to make it to Atlanta. LSU vs. South Carolina in the SEC title game and LSU wins.